Microsoft shows off Office 2021 for consumers ahead of the coming of Windows 11
- Reference: 1633352525
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/10/04/office_2021_consumer/
- Source link:
The Windows giant would really prefer the great unwashed sign up for a Microsoft 365 subscription, "However, we know some customers still prefer a non-subscription version of the core Office apps for PC and Mac, which is why we're releasing Office 2021."
Starting from 5 October (the date when Windows 11 is expected to step out of the shadows, with its [2]hardware-culling axe ) Office 2021 for Home and Student, replete with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Teams for PC and Mac, will be available for $149.99. Spend another 100 bucks for the Home and Business edition and you get Outlook for PC and Mac along with the rights "to use the apps for business purposes."
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Office 2021 includes [4]some of the features of Microsoft 365 , most notably new functions in Excel, such as XLOOKUP, and support for the [5]OpenDocument format (ODF) 1.3 . That compatibility would make a migration to an alternative productivity suite a good deal simpler should Microsoft's demands cause a user to think twice in the future.
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Both Office 2021 and Microsoft 365 have also received a visual refresh "to provide a coherent and seamless experience on a new Windows 11 PC," because if you want Windows 11, let's face it, a substantial proportion of users will be in need of a new PC.
Just [8]last week , a survey of 30 million plus Windows devices used in 60,000 organisations indicated more than half of the workstations would not be capable of running the operating system.
[9]Got enterprise workstations and hope to run Windows 11? Survey says: You lose. Over half the gear's not fit for it
[10]Epic trolling: Microsoft allows third-party storefronts into its app store
[11]Apache OpenOffice can be hijacked by malicious documents, fix still in beta
[12]Microsoft does and doesn't require VMs to meet hardware requirements for Windows 11
Microsoft 365 for individuals goes for $6.99 a month, or $69.99 a year, while households of up to six people (and needing up to six licences) can opt for the $9.99 a month ($99.99 per year) Microsoft 365 Family edition. PC users also get Access and Publisher thrown in, the latter still inexplicably a thing after all these years.
Subscribers will also get Microsoft Teams inflicted on them in the coming months and well as new features that won't make it into Office 2021.
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The announcement came with a reminder that the suite is Windows 10 and Windows 11 only, and that Office 2013 would not be supported under Windows 11. Finally, it is also worth considering that if one is hoping to use Microsoft 365 or these "non-subscription" editions of the Office 2021, a Microsoft account and Internet connection is required.
You will need to opt for the [14]Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) edition of Office if you want to dodge Microsoft's connectivity demands. ®
Get our [15]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2021/10/01/its-easier-to-create-together-with-microsoft-365-and-office-2021/
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2021/09/30/windows_11_workstations/
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/applications&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YVslT6pfqKUAHY0M0wpaVAAAAEI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/what-s-new-in-office-2021-43848c29-665d-4b1b-bc12-acd2bfb3910a#Platform=Windows_Desktop
[5] https://insider.office.com/en-gb/blog/office-apps-now-support-opendocument-format-odf-1-3
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/applications&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YVslT6pfqKUAHY0M0wpaVAAAAEI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/applications&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YVslT6pfqKUAHY0M0wpaVAAAAEI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2021/09/30/windows_11_workstations/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2021/09/30/windows_11_workstations/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2021/09/29/microsoft_store_allows_third_party_storefronts/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2021/09/20/apache_openoffice_rce/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2021/09/17/windows_11_virtual_machines_requirements/
[13] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/applications&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YVslT6pfqKUAHY0M0wpaVAAAAEI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2021/09/17/office_ltsc/
[15] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Standalone versions need an MS Account
With the current pricing, they're making it clear that they're only interesting in 365. If you want to use the cloud stuff too, it's good value, otherwise no reason not to switch to a free alternative.
Re: Standalone versions need an MS Account
So what happens when you ISP Internet Connection goes down?
if you just use Pen and Paper then you don't need to have a long noose of string perpetually connected to M$.
Re: Standalone versions need an MS Account
The standalone apps don't need an internet connection to work, especially if you're also saving lcally.
With regards to a MS account, there's usually no need for one if you're installing whilst offline, disconnect WiFi and/or network cable during install and both Windows and Office usually skip the MS account check.
Re: Standalone versions need an MS Account
so how does the "Standalone versions need an MS Account" situation arise?
Re: Standalone versions need an MS Account
If they are polling for connection so that they can lure user into signing to MS Account and giving up their privacy - then it means they are doing operations on user's computer that are outside of the product domain - in this regard Microsoft could as well mine Bitcoin. I think some good lawyers could look into it.
Oh God! Publisher! You just HAD to mention it didn't you! I won't sleep tonight.....
> Both Office 2021 and Microsoft 365 have also received a visual refresh
Yay! Because all those arty, UI/UX designer types might be unemployed if we didn't 'makework' for them.
Re: artsy UI updates
But when they DON'T update the UI they get blasted for being behind the times.
After they update, they get blasted for the design not being to [yours, theirs, our] look and design expectations.
TL;dr In other words, nobody is EVER satisfied with an UI update and for those responsible it must seem like the most unappreciated job in the world.
2007
What was wrong with the Office 2007? Can't we have it back?
Re: 2007
@elsergio
The original Office 2007 did not do export to pdf. That came with the second service pack.
a substantial proportion of users will be in need of a new PC
Good job there's not a global chip shortage, or any other supply chain problems then.
Re: a substantial proportion of users will be in need of a new PC
Imagine the mountains of e-waste. Why Eco mob isn't already at Microsoft HQ?
Standalone versions need an MS Account
That will pee off an awful lot of people. Like Google, I want as little as possible to do with MS. In the past, I could enter the license key and that was it. Now they'll be wanting all my details including my inside leg measurement just to register the product. This is NOT progress.
Ditching Orifice looks more and more attractive every day.